Vaccines are lagging behind 'border safe' target in American Samoa ahead of travel bubbles, and a warning from the Solomon Islands prime minister to health workers promoting anti-vax misinformation.
Photo: AFP
People smuggling and sex trafficking on the rise
A symposium on maritime security has been told that people smuggling and sex trafficking is on the rise in the Pacific.
Cecile Hillyer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said New Zealand is establishing a new transnational crime unit with a strong Pacific focus.
"Transnational organised crime in the region has increased in areas relevant to maritime security, including people smuggling and trafficking, sex trafficking, transportation of illicit goods - in particular drugs, on larger vessels, but also small craft."
Cecile Hillyer said it was especially difficult to track smaller vessels.
Vaccines lagging behind 'border safe' goal by 20 percent in American Samoa
American Samoa's Covid-19 Task Force are appealing for people to get vaccinated.
Coverage for both doses of the vaccine has reached 57.9 percent, but it needs to be about 80 percent before borders can be safely reopened.
The Task Force plans to open the border with Samoa next month, and Hawaii in August.
In the seven months vaccines have been available in the territory, 24,000 people have received both shots, but a total of 36,000 is needed.
The officials pointed out that future travel to and from American Samoa will require Covid-19 vaccinations.
Solomon Islands health workers promoting anti-vaxxer misinformation warned
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister has hit out at anti-vaxxers in the health workforce.
In a nationwide address, Manasseh Sogavare criticised a small group of health workers who he said have promoted misinformation about Covid-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness.
He said it was extremely sad that this group ignored evidence of the impact of vaccines on breaking the cycle of the pandemic, and instead promoted misinformation to the public.
"While I respect individual points of view, I will not allow deliberate misinformation to scare people that wish to protect themselves from Covid-19.
"If such deliberate misinformation continues, those involved will be held accountable in accordance with provisions of the relevant regulations."
For its national Covid-19 vaccine rollout, the Solomons was using two different vaccines, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm, both approved by the WHO for emergency use.
Additional funds for Cook Island from New Zealand
The New Zealand government has made available an additional funding grant of NZ $30 million to the Cook Islands government in the new financial year.
Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown said the funding would be used to support the government's Economic Recovery Roadmap, and will be directed to measures to support its economic recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As a result of the extra grant funding from New Zealand, Brown tabled an amendment to the Appropriation Bill being debated in Parliament today, increasing the total funding amount assigned to the Economic Recovery Roadmap from $22.5 million to $33.5 million.
